Jamaica’s Leader of the Opposition, Mark Golding, has expressed his readiness to collaborate with Donald Trump, who was sworn in as the 47th President of the United States on Monday.
In an exclusive interview with World Music Views, conducted during Rebel Salute in partnership with The Coda Network, the seasoned private equity investor shared his thoughts on Trump. Golding remarked, “I am looking forward to working with him. He is always intriguing, always trying new things. We can work with anybody, inuh, we can work with anybody.”
Jamaica is set to hold its general elections later this year, where Golding will lead the People’s National Party (PNP) in a highly anticipated contest against the incumbent Prime Minister, Andrew Holness, of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP).
Holness tweeted on Monday, “On behalf of the Government and people of Jamaica, I extend warm congratulations to Donald Trump on his inauguration as the 47th President of the United States.
Jamaica values the strong and enduring partnership we share with the United States, and I look forward to working closely with President Trump and his administration to strengthen our ties and advance mutual interests.”
Golding also told WMV that one of his favorite reggae songs is the Wailer’s Caution. “That’s a special one for me,” he said.
Within his first 24 hours in office, Donald Trump took a series of bold and controversial actions through executive orders and policy changes. He pardoned 1,500 January 6 rioters, proposed terminating automatic birthright citizenship, and withdrew the United States from the World Health Organization (WHO).
Trump also revoked a 2023 executive order by Joe Biden aimed at mitigating risks posed by artificial intelligence and shut down the CBP One program, denying entry to nearly one million migrants. He rescinded protections for transgender troops, established a federal policy recognizing only two genders (male and female), and mandated that federal employees return to full-time in-person work. Trump further withdrew the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement and signed executive orders to boost American energy production, despite it already being at record levels. Additionally, he delayed a TikTok ban for 75 days and announced plans to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.
Additionally, Trump revoked orders aimed at revitalizing environmental justice, advancing educational equity for Black Americans, and supporting Native American education through tribal colleges and universities.
